CMA Friday Centre December 2023 and Spring 2024 Newsletter
Rehearsals at Oasis Academy Shirley Park, Fridays 6 – 8.30pm
Remaining rehearsals Nov 17, 24, Dec 1, 8* (*December 8th is the concert)
Concert Day news and schedule
This year the parents’ association, CYMA (Croydon Youth Music Association), will be providing refreshments before the concert. Please look out for separate correspondence from them in the next few days letting you know about timings, and how you can help.
Each group has a brief slot to run their programme in the hall. Please arrive BEFORE your rehearsal slot and be ready to play.
5pm Chamber groups rehearse as normal in the 6th form classroom.
5.30pm Chamber group run through in the main hall
5.45pm CYO rehearsal
6.10pm CYCO join for Tico Tico (arrive 6pm as normal, ready to play at 6.10pm)
Followed by other groups. Students remain on site.
Concert dress is All Black (smart clothes, long skirt or trousers, black shoes and socks).
The concert begins at 8pm and you can buy tickets on the door. This year there will now be a card reader so you do not need to bring cash. Tickets will be £5 (£3 conc.) and there is a discount on tickets if you bring a programme from the Tuesday or Saturday centre December concerts.
Next term we resume rehearsals on Friday 12th January.
The full list of dates can be found on our News and Events page, along with signposting to other opportunities for students. The March concerts are often the highlight of the year for the Friday centre ensembles and next term is no exception. In Croydon’s final month as Borough of Culture, we have some amazing performance opportunities lined up. Please ensure you have these extra dates in your diaries. The 23rd March concert is for the Concert Orchestra but CYO players will be invited to support the final rehearsal and concert as well (subject to stage space and balance). The Peter Stark concert will once again be a collaboration between CYO and students from the Trinity Academy but this year we have been very fortunate to receive additional funding to bring players from the Chineke! professional orchestra into weekly rehearsals and the concert. This project has been made possible by Partnership funding from the London Music Fund, supported by The Karlsson Játiva Charitable Foundation, through the Signatur programme for the advancement of the art of music.
8th, 9th & 10th March Peter Stark Weekend for Youth Orchestra only
8th March Oasis Academy rehearsal extended to 9pm finish
9th March 1-4pm & 5-8pm @ Trinity School
10th March 10am – 1pm, pizza lunch then 3pm concert @ Trinity School
Saturday 23rd March - Concert Orchestra (plus invited CYO players) 2-5pm rehearsal & 7pm concert @Fairfield Halls. In collaboration with Young Croydon Composers and Drum the Bass
Kind regards,
Jon Regan, CMA Friday Centre